Stevens Model 200 hunting to precision.

The.22guy

The.22guy

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Looking at some hunting rifles and would like something in .223 and saw the Stevens Model 200 in .223 and I notice that lot's of people use the action as a base for a "cheap" sniper. My question is with would be what the best items to replace on this rifle to turn it quite accurate ? or would I be better of to but a different rifle ?. Has any one seen the 200 yard grouping for the rifle ?. Any helpful info would be nice :p .
 
Change the barrel out to one of the pre-chambered ones offered by Mystic Player. Presto, instant precision rifle.

Also recommended would be replacing the trigger with something decent and maybe the stock, depending on what kind of shooting you want to do with it.

Mark
 
i would go for the stock as the first thing to change the plastic toy stock that comes with it is so weak it flexes and touches the barrel changing it from a free floating to a major pressuer point rifle i took my stock and fiberglassed the snot out of it and left the action and barrel alone and im getting one hole 1/2" groups at 100M with 223 next i would do the trigger im waiting to shoot out my barrel befor i change it out and with it being a freefloat gun getting a stock thats able to fit a heavy barrel wont hurt it if its got a sporter barrel till its shot out
 
The first thing I did was stiffen the forend, some guys use a metal rod and epoxy. I used steel epoxy putty from home hardware, it worked perfectly. Next thing on the list would be the trigger, I haven't changed mine yet but I have a timney trigger on my savage 111 and it is awesome, a crisp, clean break and well priced. After that you should start handloading for better accuracy. If your still not happy with MOA accuracy, bed the action and get an aftermarket barrel.
 
The stevens is a cheap repeater hunting rifle with a crappy stock and a crappy trigger. You can spend a fortune upgrading it into something that shoots (with its heart still being a cheap hunting rifle action), or you can buy a rifle off the shelf that was DESIGNED to be a highly accurate singe-shot target rifle for less money.

The Savage 12 FTR is made in 223. It has everything you want in a precision rifle with components that were designed from the get-go for the very type of shooting you are thinking of. Likewise, the LRPV, the Remington VLSII Thumbole. Buying a model 12 FTR is cheaper than upgrading.
 
Obtunded said:
The stevens is a cheap repeater hunting rifle with a crappy stock and a crappy trigger. You can spend a fortune upgrading it into something that shoots (with its heart still being a cheap hunting rifle action), or you can buy a rifle off the shelf that was DESIGNED to be a highly accurate singe-shot target rifle for less money.

The Savage 12 FTR is made in 223. It has everything you want in a precision rifle with components that were designed from the get-go for the very type of shooting you are thinking of. Likewise, the LRPV, the Remington VLSII Thumbole. Buying a model 12 FTR is cheaper than upgrading.
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I agree 100% if you are looking for a .223 for percision shooting the money involved with making the stevens into a "percision" rifle would be better spent on the FTR for sure!...

But If you want to go hunting lugging around a 20lb gun/scope/bipod might get tiring to say the least.

IF you will mainly be hunting with it then throwing a match grade medium sporter contour barrel on it, replace the trigger and stock and you will have a tack driver that is a light maneuverable package.

Its all in what your end goal is for the rifle and what you will be doing more...... percision paper punching or putting holes in game....

Don't forget about the Tikka line of rifles either although they have a slower twist might not be good for flinging a heavy high BC bullet long range but punching paper out to 500yds with 55gr bullets is very fun to. On the same page is the Savage BVSS a great all around target/hunting rig.....
 
I can put a match barrel on your Stevens action for 325$...I'd say that's a little cheaper then an ftr. Want an adjustable trigger? Add a sear adjustment screw and tweak your trigger too. How about a choate tactical, cheap substitute for an a5 but they work and look good. Under 1000$ and you can have a tac driving semi custom rifle that will shoot with rifles costing 1000's more.

Cheers
 
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Obtunded said:
The stevens is a cheap repeater hunting rifle with a crappy stock and a crappy trigger. You can spend a fortune upgrading it into something that shoots (with its heart still being a cheap hunting rifle action), or you can buy a rifle off the shelf that was DESIGNED to be a highly accurate singe-shot target rifle for less money.

The Savage 12 FTR is made in 223. It has everything you want in a precision rifle with components that were designed from the get-go for the very type of shooting you are thinking of. Likewise, the LRPV, the Remington VLSII Thumbole. Buying a model 12 FTR is cheaper than upgrading.
Click to expand...

:D:D:D

Jerry
 
So now comes the question, "should I go all out and buy the 12 F/TR, or go half way and buy a 12 FCV w/ aluminium bedding block?"

I like the barrel on the 12 F/TR (1:7", 30") but is it worth the extra cash/lack of bedding?


Im pretty sure for an entry level rifle, the 12 FCV (or FV for that matter) is just fine.
 
HD, depends on what you want to achieve with this rifle.

If you are going to have fun shooting and some club matches, study the rules, pick the rifle you like, have at it.

The Savages all shoot pretty much the same with the wildcard being the barrel you end up with. The action either hunting or target will not be the limiting factor in performance. They ALL need to be properly bedded and I prefer the lam stock vs the accustock chassis.

Some factory barrels shoot great, stay stable when they get hot, don't foul out for a lot of use. Others are a horror show. There is no way to predict until you put your money on the table and go make noise.

However, 1/2 min is about all I have ever been able to extract from a Savage barrel and I have had the pleasure of shooting a number of them. This is the average, not the best group and I shoot at 200yds.

If you want to shoot F TR, you may not have the sharpest knief to use AND I am not a big fan of the stock design. If you fit, wonderful. If you don't, you have a very expensive factory part which you need to replace.

If competition is the goal, my path was to start with that dirt cheap Stevens and swap in parts that will do what I want (see link in my sig for article). The final cost is about the same as the Savage F rifles (less if you are handy with woodworking) and I get what I want, the way I want it, and I know it will shoot competitively vs rigs costing much much more.

But the 'build' will take time to put together.

A shooter will be using my 12VLP for this weekends Farky. This rifle shoots very well and will hold the V bull at 500m which was a surprise to me but hey, you get a good one now and then. The rifle will be shot in the Factory class where it will be very competitive and only up to the driver to get it done.

To me, this type of factory rifle made sense. A Savage FTR shooting in the full meal deal class doesn't.

YMMV.

Jerry
 
It most certainly got bedded. Todays cost saving engineering ensures very generous and usually ill fitting bedding in EVERY factory rifle I have played with.

Yep, got a good one.

Shooter is a novice but still survived the gale and shot a reasonable score. In a group of two, they split the days wins.

What impressed me the most was the lack of vertical at 500m.

This is certainly one of the better factory barrels.

Jerry
 
Obtunded said:
The stevens is a cheap repeater hunting rifle with a crappy stock and a crappy trigger. You can spend a fortune upgrading it into something that shoots (with its heart still being a cheap hunting rifle action), or you can buy a rifle off the shelf that was DESIGNED to be a highly accurate singe-shot target rifle for less money.

The Savage 12 FTR is made in 223. It has everything you want in a precision rifle with components that were designed from the get-go for the very type of shooting you are thinking of. Likewise, the LRPV, the Remington VLSII Thumbole. Buying a model 12 FTR is cheaper than upgrading.
Click to expand...

Ummmmmmmm yeah/no?

I bought a long action stevens intent to build a 25-06ai with it - long story short - I own an FTR and now my long action stevens is a 260Ai wearing a shilen match select barrel with a rifle basix trigger under it - sitting in a bedded boyds stock. Flogged off the 30-06 barrel for $50. Not counting scope I have $800 into it and it outshoots the factory FTR by a rather large margin. Unless you can find an FTR at less than I paid for mine - I'd argue that you can trick out a savage stevens rather easily. Factory tube vs. match grade - pretty sure that match grade trumps it....MOST times - because then I have a savage 10fp in 223....and it runs along side the shilen barrel if I pay attention and do my part....but....it also doesn't kick as much when I touch the trigger :p

So.....yeah - buy the tricked out FTR or don't - I think you'd be pleased either way.

Myself - I LOVED building up my stevens - I put it all together myself, barrel did come from Jerry (aka MysticPlayer) as well as his endless supply of information....I am currently saving for another stevens and ordering another shilen barrel as soon as funding is sorted. I couldn't be happier with the results I got.

As said.....YMMV.
 
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